The main purpose of a cover letter is to interest the employer in reading your resumé.
Want your resume cover letter format to make a great impression? Showcase your attention to detail and create a cover letter that matches the format and layout of your resume.
There are So may websites offer you tons of information to create a cover that can attract an employer. But sometimes, you get overwhelmed by so many information. I’m sharing some simple ways to create your ultimate cover letter.
Header
Contact information
Begin your cover letter with your contact information. It should be in block style, on the left margin of your paper, towards the top
- Name
- Current home address
- Telephone number
- Email and/or website
- Logo (if available)
Date
Include a date as you would do with any business letter. Sometimes it includes the city as well.
Employer Contact Information
Contact Person’s Name, Title, Employer, and Address (If available)
Salutation
Dear Mr.
Dear Mrs.
Dear Hiring manager
Dear [Full name of person]
Dear Sir or Madam
Dear Dr.
Dear Human Resources Manager
Dear [Company Name] Recruiter
To Whom It May Concern (if no information available)
Opening Paragraph
The first paragraph will tell the employer several things:
- Why you are interested in the company and this position
- What experience and skills you have that would make
you a strong candidate - Show your personality and enthusiasm
- A summary of your key qualifications that match the
employer’s needs - A good first paragraph is critical to a successful cover
- letter, because employers often decide whether it is
- worth reading the rest of your material at this stage.
- Employers respond best to cover letters which show
your enthusiasm for the job and their company. They
want to see original letters that are tailored specifically
to the advertised position and/or company. - Demonstrate why you are an excellent candidate for
this job. Capture the employer’s attention by showing
your knowledge about the industry, the company or the
advertised job. This is where the research you have
done will be very useful.
Body
- The next two-three paragraphs are where you provide
the supporting examples of the skills/experiences you
described in the first paragraph. You can illustrate them
with examples. - These can be some of the same examples included in
your resume, though it is always best to have at least
one that is different or more detailed.
It’s not about you It’s about how you can help the employer
- Read the job ad carefully. Identify the key
challenges your future employer is facing. Then,
explain how you can help them - Emphasize how your expertise will help solve their
problems. You can use bullet points to break up the
text and highlight your achievements - Explain your motivation. Once they understand they
want you, they’ll want to know why you want them
Closing Paragraph
- The last paragraph is short and businesslike.
- Many employers state they like to see a link back
to the original match statement made in the
opening paragraph to reinforce your fit and
interest. - Your assumption is that they will want to see you,
so your language should reflect your confidence.
Format
- Keep it short. A cover letter is meant to be a
summary of your resume, so don’t write more than
one page. - Simple, easy-to-read fonts are best for cover letters.
Use a professional font like Arial, Calibri, Verdana,
Helvetica, Cambria, or Times New Roman. Avoid
custom fonts or special characters. - Keep the cover letter font size between 11 and 12 pt.
See Ways to Write a simple resumé.
